Mary of Egypt

[M. Rallis]

Our parish priest leads a bible study every Sunday at 5PM, and our usual topic is the Gospel passage for the next Sunday. Today, I took with me the St. Sophronios "Life of St. Mary of Egypt" downloaded and printed from this web site. Of the 14 people present, about 5 had previously read about St. Mary, so the group spent 30 minutes taking turns reading aloud until we had finished the 15 pages. No dry eyes in the room as we finished reading. Thank you Matthew for making such texts so readily available.

Michael

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear in the Lord, Michael,

I am very happy to hear that you were able to make use of this text in your study group. It is hard to conceive of a more moving story of genuine repentance than that of St Mary - certainly the reason her Life (http://www.monachos.net/monasticism/mary_of_egypt/life.shtml) has been incorporated into the Lenten Triodion and holds so noteable a place in the commemorations of the Fast.

For those who may not have explored the relevant pages, the troparion and kontakion to St Mary of Egypt (http://www.monachos.net/monasticism/mary_of_egypt/index.shtml) are also available online.

INXC, Matthew

[John Curtis Dunn]

I would like to know what, if anything, has been taught to others about the Baptism of St. Mary of Egypt. Nowhere in the story is it made certain whether she was baptized as an infant or as an adult. Whichever, please also cite some references if possible.


john dunn

[Matthew Panchisin]

Dear John,

I don't recall the places that I read the text regarding Saint Mary of Egypt's Baptism, but here is some information from a coptic website.

Monastic tonsure is considered a second baptism, tonsure does not repeat, but renews and activates the grace of the baptism. There is a tremendous amount of mysticism in the life of this great ascetic Saint.


http://www.saintmark.com/topics/synexarion/maryofegypt.htm

Guided then by a vision of the Theotokos, Mary left at once for the desert beyond the Jordan river, for there, her vision told her, she would find rest. On the way, she stopped at a church built on the river banks; there she washed herself in the Jordan, receiving thus her baptism, and partook of the Eucharist in that church, all the while utterly alone. From there, she came to the desert, led still by the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her new life was begun.

In Christ,

Matthew Panchisn

[John P. Nasou]

St. Mary of Egypt must have been baptized for in her initial = conversation with St. Zosimos she was quoted as saying "know holy = father, that I am only a sinful woman, though I am guarded by holy = baptism." Whether she was baptized as a youth or in infancy is not = known, for we have only this one account by St. Sophronios, the = Patriarch. There are many other very fanciful accounts which have her = conversing with a statue of the Holy Virgin - though there were no = statues allowed in that part of the Christian world, only in the Latin. =

[Herman Blaydoe]

receiving thus her baptism

Interesting, this appears to be an addition. These particular words are NOT part of St. Sophronius' account, which seems to assume that she was baptised as an infant.

[John P. Nasou]

Did I miss comething here? Herman, where did you find this quotation, = receiving thus her baptism. - John =

[Herman Blaydoe]

Evidently it is from the Coptic site referenced by Matthew, one post above yours.